Indigenous Studies Lecture Notes

Flashcards summarizing key vocabulary and concepts related to Indigenous studies and settler colonialism.

Sovereignty

A form of power where authority is held by a governing body, especially in relation to land ownership.

Settler Colonialism

A form of colonialism that seeks to replace the indigenous population with a settler population.

Decolonization

The movement to restore land and independence to indigenous peoples, reversing the impacts of colonialism.

Terra Nullius

A Latin term meaning 'land belonging to no one', used to justify the taking of land inhabited by indigenous peoples.

Doctrine of Discovery

A principle of international law that legitimized the takeover of non-Christian lands.

Indian Act

Canadian legislation that regulates the lives of registered First Nations and their governance.

First Nations

Terms used to describe the various indigenous groups of Canada, representing some but not all indigenous peoples.

Papal Bulls

Official documents issued by the Pope, historically used to justify conquest and colonization.

Indigenous Knowledge

Traditional ecological knowledge and cultural heritage passed down through generations.

Fiduciary Duty

The legal responsibility of the government to act in the best interest of indigenous nations.

Cultural Appropriation

The adoption of elements of one culture by members of another culture, often without permission.

Epistemic Injustice

A wrong done to someone in their capacity as a knower, often in the context of marginalized groups.

Residential Schools

Government-sponsored religious schools aimed at assimilating Indigenous children, often causing lasting trauma.

Potlatch Ban

A historical prohibition on indigenous ceremonies and gatherings in Canada, effective from 1885 to 1951.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

A commission established to document the history and impacts of residential schools on indigenous communities in Canada.

Holism

The perspective that components of a whole are interconnected, emphasized in indigenous worldviews.

Indigenous Peoples

A collective term for the original inhabitants of a land, encompassing various distinct nations and cultures.

Economic Biomimicry

Creating systems that sustainably reproduce natural processes and interactions in economic practices.

Knowledge as Power

The concept that possessing knowledge equates to having influence or control over others.